"Dance companions" for hire--a new "service" from DancePartner.com. I already mistrust pro/am partnerships because of the potential for weirdness on either side, but a pro/am couple at least has a clear demarcation of authority between student and teacher. Hiring a partner seems like a minefield. Of course, I can comfortably make such pronouncements because I have an amateur partner.

Must admit, too, that .001% of my brain is thinking, "I am slim and attractive enough, and a good dancer; maybe I should put myself out for hire." But around here, anyone who'd hire me would likely be someone I already know and have danced with for free. Also, even the prospect of financial gain can't get me past the sketchiness factor.

I wonder if most of the partners-for-hire are men (who are more in demand in the female-heavy ballroom world) or women (who are the majority of the ballroom population).